10 Outstanding Sparkling Wines from Cava, Corpinnat & Penedès

Situated in the Empordà region north of Penedès, Castillo de Perelada has produced excellent Cavas since Miguel Mateu Pla founded it in 1923. Today, Perelada’s wines are made at its striking new winery in Empordà, inaugurated in 2022, while Gran Claustro continues to mature in the historic convent cellars beside the castle; its origins trace back to the success of a special Perelada cava selected for Eisenhower’s 1959 reception. It is one of the finest Cavas, bursting with delicious smoky, creamy, apple, and pear flavors.

One of the region’s oldest firms, Codorníu, dates to 1551; Josep Raventós Fatjó produced its first traditional-method sparkling wine in 1872. Indeed, given the massive volumes Codorníu releases, the consistency of quality and style is remarkable, yet their Cavas offer tremendous value. However, their proudest achievement is the Gran Plus Ultra Chardonnay Brut Nature, a testament to how well this once-controversial variety can grow in Catalunya with the right terroir. It is a brilliant Cava, displaying purity of fruit, freshness, and elegance rare even among the best Cava producers—one for that exceptional occasion.

A historical outfit, Freixenet is undoubtedly synonymous with its bargain-basement Cordon Negro range for most consumers, a mainstay of supermarket aisles worldwide. Yet there is far more to Freixenet than meets the eye – their top range of Cavas are superb, particularly Elyssia Gran Cuvée. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir join Macabeo and Parellada in the blend. The aromas are truly captivating: honeysuckle, citrus, and pear-drop all vie for attention, supported by a creamy, richly textured palate. A superlative Cava at a very wallet-friendly price!

A legend among Penedès sparkling-wine growers, Gramona has long been one of the region’s finest producers, renowned for the high quality and consistency of its output. Today, it releases its wines under the Corpinnat collective brand, with a demanding focus on estate-grown fruit, organic viticulture, and long aging. The whole range is exciting, but none more than the cream of the crop: the prestige cuvée Celler Batlle. It is undoubtedly one of the finest sparkling wines produced in Penedès and can compete with the best of Champagne. Celler Batlle is one of the greats: caressingly smooth, deep and structured, with enticing aromas of coffee and caramel.

With a proud winemaking legacy dating back to 1796, Juvé & Camps has long been a leading name in Penedès sparkling wine. In 2026, the family joined Corpinnat. Their hallmark is a powerful, ‘serious’ style, often more suited to gastronomy than a simple aperitif. Gran Tribut Joan Juvé, formerly Gran Juvé & Camps, reflects that approach: rich, complex and lengthy, with the structure to accompany seafood, poultry or even game.

Llopart has been cultivating vines since the 14th century, a remarkable historical pedigree that remains intact today. Produced from estate vineyards, Leopardi is one of the family’s flagship wines: a Corpinnat Brut Nature made from the traditional varieties Xarel·lo, Macabeu and Parellada and given extended aging in the cellar. Fresh, elegant and full-bodied, with fine bubbles and considerable depth, it is a stylish sparkling wine fit for any occasion.

A pioneer of the terroir-driven approach to sparkling wine, Raventós i Blanc has successfully shifted the focus from its admittedly beautiful winery to the vineyard. They continue to use organic and biodynamic practices to harvest the highest-quality fruit. Having left the Cava framework, Raventós i Blanc now produces its sparkling wines under the Conca del Riu Anoia project. None is more impressive than Manuel Raventós Negra. Subject to extended lees aging, it is a complex, yeasty sparkling wine of considerable depth and character.

Ton Mata is one of the most devoted, talented, and innovative winemakers in Penedès today. He is dedicated to his terroir and nurturing the region’s signature grape, Xarel-lo, to perfection. Do you want proof? Well, taste his fantastic single-vineyard Corpinnat, Turó d’en Mota, produced from an old-vine plot of Xarel-lo. It is an intensely concentrated sparkling wine with pronounced vinosity and chewiness that demands the finest cuisine. Dover sole, perhaps?

Established by a family of tailors and musicians, Celler Kripta has long been known for its rich, powerful house style, reaching its apogee in the prestige cuvée Kripta. Now part of Corpinnat, Kripta remains a talking point among sparkling-wine connoisseurs, thanks in part to its distinctive amphora-shaped bottle. The wine is rich, refined and wonderfully complex, with layers of vanilla, toffee, caramel and toast. Utterly delicious, and worth buying for the stylish bottle alone.

Owned by the Freixenet group, Segura Viudas is nonetheless marketed as a separate entity, and Freixenet has wisely left the winemaking team to their own devices. Today, winemakers Manel Quintana and Ton Raventós produce an exciting range of traditional and modern Cavas, although it’s the Brut Rosé that we have fallen in love with. The Brut Rosé is one of the region’s best buys: a stylish, consistent rosé Cava. It deserves a warm evening, great company, and even better food.